Astros fire their pitching coach  —  The Astros have announced that they have fired pitching coach Brad Arnsberg.  He is being replaced by an interim: Doug Brocail, who if you put a gun to my head I probably would have guessed was still pitching mopup duty for someone out west because I tend …

Derek Jeter pays price for extra effort  —  The Captain is just six hits away from 3,000, but his body broke down on Monday night  —  NEW YORK — Derek Jeter has forever honored an unwritten pact with the paying public, a deal revolving around the one aspect of competition entirely within the athlete's control:

Why Jim Crane Could Become Baseball's Most Controversial Owner  —  Owning a Major League Baseball club has a gratification and ego element that, for some, far surpasses a corporate takeover or merger.  To buy a team means entering a rare fraternity where you become part of baseball's incredible lineage.

Cubs' plummet likely will end in fall guy  —  With wins and revenue down, Jim Hendry's days as general manager appear numbered  —  CHICAGO — Fledgling scapegoat Mike Quade was contemplative about the Chicago Cubs' latest injury victim, one Kerry Wood.  —  “We can put people on the moon …

Cole & Heidi Hamels give $200k to Philly schools  —  Checkbook figuratively in hand, Phillies ace Cole Hamels visited a North Philadelphia high school this morning to find his presence was welcome almost as much as his money.  —  The former World Series MVP joined his wife Heidi in donating …

Hughes has solid outing against Minor Leaguers  —  Yankees right-hander gets fastball into 90s at Tampa complex  —  TAMPA, Fla. — If Phil Hughes felt half as good as he looked on the mound Tuesday morning, it won't be long before he rejoins his Yankees teammates.

Brandon Crawford's nickname comes straight from street ball  —  You might know rookie shortstop Brandon Crawford  —  as the fella who hit a grand slam in his major league debut last month.  But his San Francisco Giants teammates and his previous minor league mates know him as “The Professor.”

Florida Marlins front office tells Logan Morrison to quiet down after recent comments  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison has been told to tone down his comments by president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest after Morrison's reaction last week to the firing of hitting coach John Mallee.

Wells' 2 homers give Angels 6-3 win over Seattle  —  SEATTLE—Vernon Wells hit the Angels' first homer in a week with a solo shot in the third inning, then hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh to give Los Angeles a 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

Dodgers' June 30 payroll looms large in McCourt case  —  Frank McCourt is expected to meet payroll Wednesday, but team reportedly appears to have ‘no chance’ of making next one that roughly triples, without cash infusion from TV deal that is under debate.  —  Dodger owner Frank McCourt comments …

Uni Watch Profiles: Lynn Farrell  —  The increasingly indispensable Mike Hersh has found yet another way to be indispensable.  Mike's wife works with woman named Lynn Farrell, who has an unusual line on her résumé: Back in the mid-1970s, she was a live mascot for a big league ballclub.

Mike Trout vs. Super Two  —  It's “Super Two” time around baseball, and that means it's also time to debate the merits of the current service time system.  Teams manage the Super Two rules in different ways, and both have their merits.  —  The San Francisco Giants won the World Series last year …

Pence's 4 RBIs leads Astros to 8-3 win over Braves  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Hunter Pence returned from a day off with back trouble and homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros snapped a four-game skid with an 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.

Blue Jays play host to Orioles; send Villanueva to the mound  —  Sports Network  —  (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays have to be pretty happy to see the Boston Red Sox leaving town.  Their smiles are even brighter with the Baltimore Orioles coming to Rogers Centre.

Obstruction call on Reyes proves costly for Mets  —  PITTSBURGH — A controversial call against Jose Reyes and the Mets in the first inning led to the Pirates' first run on Monday evening at PNC Park.  —  Pittsburgh's Jose Tabata, who'd singled to start the inning, ran to third on a single by Xavier Paul.